Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/13/1994

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~une 15, 199a Heidi Welsoh Community DevelOpment Intern City of Ramsey ~' 15153 Nowthen BOulevard N.W, Ramsey, MN 55303 Re: Proposed Fox Ridge Neighborhood Park Dear Heidi: I am in receipt of your letter and survey regarding the proposed park project for our Fox Ridge neighborhood. Although we are pleased to learn of the city's efforts to further improve our neighborhood with;the addition of a proposed park,.I would like to offer a number of alternatives to enhance our fineneighborhood. The designated lan~fl set aside for a neighborhood park in the Fox Ridge Estates area is indeed a challenge. Predominantly wetland, the area offers little possibiJfifies for creative use of the space. In discussing the proposed park with neighbors, it is evident that many residents are apprehensive about the proximi~ to the high voltage power lines directly over head. Our neighborhood consists of residential lots one to four acres in dimension. We enjoy the wide spaces of our properties and we use our properties as we would a park. Most homes have placed swing sets and various climbing structures for their children on their lots. Our roadways are quiet and conducive to bike riding, walking, running, rollerblading and many other similar activities. The addition of a p~kk which includes playground-type equipment would be redundant and seldom used. Similarly, i~ is evident as one su:olls th.rough our neighborhood that most homes enjoy cooking and eating outdoors on their decks and patios. Picnic shelters/tables would not offer a unique alternative f6r our families. An emphasis toward wildlife-v/ewing with a marsh boardwalk.' may be a better suggested use of the land area proposed ~ a park. But again, our families really appear to enjoy spending time in their own lovely yards. ,Clearing the area around the marsh w6uld certainly make the area more accessible and perhaps am-act curious nature lovers. The marsh offers a wide variety of birds, waterfowl and otherinteresing animals. My suggestion for the funds ascribed to a proposed park are these: *install a number of waterfowl/bird "houses" and other similar structures for other an/reals to maintain the active w~clllfe in the area that we all enjoy (create a wildlife sanctuary) *instal/stree.tlights in the Fox Ridge Estates neighborhood to promote safety and to add to the Iighte~ accessibil/ty of our neighborhood streets *assist in the construction/maintenance of an entrance marker to our neighborhood We at our house sincerely appreciate the cit-y's efforts to address the outdoor recreation needs of our neighborhood r~sidents. However, given the unique qualifies of our neighborhood, perhaps an alternative plan maybe in order. Thank you for the opportunity to provide some input to the city's plans for a neighbor:hood park. I do hope that the city does its homework before proceeding with a project that may perhaps fall to a wasted effom ,,~Sincerely, Mark E. Anderson 6060 173rd Ave N.W. Rarnsey, MN 55303